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KYOTO TRAVEL

Stay in the right part of Kyoto.

Higashiyama for temple walks. Downtown for the food. Arashiyama for the river, Gion for the famous lanes. The base makes the trip, and we will help you pick the hotel for it.

Where to stay Browse by district
WHERE TO STAY

Pick your district first, hotel second.

Each part of Kyoto sets up a different trip. Walkable temple mornings in Higashiyama. Food and lanterns in Pontocho. Slow river days in Arashiyama. Start here, then narrow to the room.

Higashiyama Temple walks, Yasaka Pagoda, lantern streets Gion Geisha district, machiya streets, kaiseki Downtown Kawaramachi, Pontocho, Nishiki Market Arashiyama Riverside ryokan, bamboo grove, autumn maple Near Kyoto Station Trains in, day trips out Nishijin & North Imperial Palace, residential quiet
EDITOR'S PICK

The starting point for your Kyoto stay.

If you are choosing a base for the first time, start with the master guide. It walks through every district, what each one is good for, who it suits, and the hotel pick we would book for it.

START HERE

The Best Onsen Ryokan in Kyoto: Where to Soak in the City and Nearby

Kyoto isn't really an onsen city. The actual map of where the hot-spring ryokan are (Kurama, Arashiyama, Ohara), why Kibune doesn't qualify, and how to use Funaoka as a hybrid soak when staying downtown.

Read the guide →
ACCOMMODATION GUIDES

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The Best Onsen Ryokan in Kyoto: Where to Soak in the City and Nearby

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Traditional Machiya Stays in Kyoto: Renting a Restored Townhouse

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Hotels with Private Onsen in Kyoto: Rooms with Their Own Bath

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Where to Stay in Kyoto: A Luxury-Leaning Guide to the Best Districts

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The Best Ryokan in Kyoto: Traditional Inns Worth the Splurge

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Hotels Near Kyoto Station: The Best Options for First-Time Visitors
See all accommodation guides →
WHAT YOU GET HERE

A real opinion in every guide.

Districts, not lists

We start with where, not what. Pick the right base for the trip you want; the hotel choice gets a lot easier from there.

Specific, not vague

Real prices in yen. Walking minutes. Station exits. The room category worth the upgrade and the one that isn't.

Honest, not promotional

Which famous luxury hotel is overrated. Which underrated ryokan is worth the detour. When booking direct beats Booking.com.

BY TRIP STYLE

What kind of stay are you booking?

Luxury hotels, traditional ryokan, restored machiya, or something honest in the middle. Pick the type and we will rank the contenders.

Luxury hotels Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Mitsui, Aman, Six Senses, ranked by what each one actually delivers for the price. Read the guide → Traditional ryokan Tawaraya, Hiiragiya, Hoshinoya. The famous names, the underrated ones, and how to book the rooms that do not sell on Booking. Read the guide → Machiya stays Restored townhouses for couples and small families. Real kitchens, private gardens, the price of one hotel room. Read the guide → Value picks Mid-range hotels that punch above their price tag. Honest rooms, walkable bases, breakfast worth eating. Read the guide →
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